Offshore drilling means



June 17, 1952 E. P. HALLIBURTON 2,600,761

OFFSHORE DRILLING MEANS Filed Dec. 6, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet l wink/1 June17, 1952 E. P. HALLIBURTON 2,500,761

OFFSHORE DRILLING MEANS Filed Dec. 6, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 11mm June1952 E. .P. HALLIBURTON OFFSHORE DRILLING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledDec. 6, 1948 June 17, 1952 Filed Dec. 6, 1948 E. P. HALLIBURTON OFFSHOREDRILLING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 17, 1952 Filed Dec. 6, 1948 E. P.HALLIBURTON OFFSHORE DRILLING MEANS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 17, 1952 E. P.HALLIBURTON 2,600,761

OFFSHORE DRILLING MEANS Filed Dec. 6, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 awe/MooPatented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to offshore drilling apparatus, and particularlyto drilling rig supporting means adaptable for positioning over adrilling site which may be beneath a large and deep body of water.

Various structures have heretofore been proposed for use in transportingand supporting well drilling equipment in a manner intended to besuitable for drilling wells below unprotected deep water. Suchstructures in all cases, however, either constitute permanentdevelopments which may not be moved from the drilling site afterdrilling operations are completed and which are extremely expensive orconstitute structures which, although transportable after drilling, areimpractical for the reason that said structures provide no satisfactorymeans for assuring stability of the structure over the drilling site,either against action of the sea or the wind. In all of the proposeddesigns, the only restraints provided to resist horizontal movement ofthe structure during the action of high waves and high winds arevertical members between the primary structure and the water bottom. Itis self-evident that as the depth of water in which the proposedstructure is to be used increases, the width of the supporting structuremust increase in order to provide adequate resistance to upset orcollapse the drilling platform. Consequently, truly deep water drillingrequires that a tremendously large and heavy structure be built wherebyto provide the sufficient base distance, and no provision exists in theprior art whereby this can be achieved in connection with a reasonablycompact and light supporting structure.

It is consequently the principal object of this invention to provide acompact, reasonably light but strong structure adapted as adrillingplatform and adapted to be stably supported over drilling sitessubmerged under considerable depths of water.

A further object of the invention is to provide said structuretransportable to and from desired drilling sites and adapted to composeits supporting base over varying areas determined by the depth of thewater encountered and therefore the distance between the base and top.

Another object of this invention is to provide said supporting basewhich preferably constitutes telescoping legs as retracted inrelationship to the barge or platform itself during transporting, butextendible over any drilling site to form a base for the platform.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide means associatedwith the supporting structure whereby the barge or drilling platform maybe raised from the surface of the sea whereby to be free of thebufieting action of the sea waves.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide portions of thesupporting structure for the platform as integrally correlated to assurethat the platform is supported evenly and is not tilted or disturbedfrom a horizontal plane during raising of the platform from the surfaceof the sea.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a barge or drilling platformembodying the present invention and having its supporting structure orlegs in position for moving the barge;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of said barge or platform;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the apparatus having itssupporting means or legs extending to the bottom;

Figure 5 is another view similar to Figures 3 and 4 but showing thebarge or drilling platform raised from the surface of the sea andshowing an oil well casing set in the well bore;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic system forcontrolling the positions of the barge supporting structure or legs;

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the valves thereof in adifferent position;

Figure 8 is a further view similar to Figure 6 showing the valves in yetanother position;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of one of the legs of the bargesupporting apparatus;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view of a leg taken on the line lU-l0 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of thehydraulic jacks which control the position of the barge supporting meansor legs.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of an enlarged lower portionof one of the barge supporting legs.

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line I 3l 3 ofFigure 12; and v Figure 14 is a plan view of a proposed modification ofthe barge or drilling platform and associated apparatus.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view partly in section and partlydiagrammatic, showing a mod: ification of the means for controlling theposition of the legs.

Referring to the drawings, the general assembly of the structureincorporating this invention consists in a barge 28 which serves as adrilling platform, and is provided with a slot 22 through which drillingoperations may take place, the said barge 29 supporting a derrick 24which may or may not be erected prior to the time the barge reaches thedrilling site. The barge is of course of sufiicient proportions tocontain equipment and supplies for drilling wells and operatingconnected supporting apparatus, as well as ballast and trim tanks, andmay also be equipped with motivating means whereby the barge may bedriven to a suitable drilling site.

Attached pivotally to the barge are a plurality of paired telescopinglegs 26, shown for clarity as 26 and 26a in some views, which form theprincipal supporting members once the barge has reached the drillingsite. Said legs 25 are extended by hydraulic means hereinaftertobefinished, the legs 28 are withdrawn or collapsed,

settling the barge or platform to the surface of the sea, and the bargethen removed from the drilling site, it being noticed that the casing.39 may clear the barge when, said barge is moved through, the slot 22.

Referring to the device more specifically, the barge 29 constitutes afloating and transportable drilling platform with a longitudinal slot 22therein and having pairs of telescoping legs 26, each, leg pivotallyattached to the side of the drilling platform by brackets 32 which formbearings to support the studs 34 extending from bosses 3.8. welded orotherwise affixed to the uppermost section of the legs 25'. Additionallysupporting. the said legs 2.6 are trusse 38 which are pivotally attachedto straps 38a afhxed to the barge and which are also welded or otherwiseconnected, to the upper sections of the said legs 26, it being notedthat the pivot line for the trusses 38. is coaxial with the pivot linefor the stud 34'.

Above the bosses 36 on the upper sections of the legs, 2.6 are studs 42'extending, from the leg sections. and, to which are, pivotally affixedthe yokes 4:3 whichv are connected to piston rods 46 which lead throughthe. hydraulic jacks. 48 pivotally supported by the post 59, saidhydraulic jacks 4.8. being. paired relation and controlling the.pivoting of the legs 26 with respect to the barge 29 in. manner to behereinafter described.

The legs 26 comprise a plurality of telescoping sections being adaptedto extend as best shown in Figure 9. Each section, said section formingtubes, is provided with suitable packingv means 52 whereby to preventthe passage of fluid from between the sections, and is. also provided,with suitable stops 54 to prevent over-extension. of the legs and stops55 to prevent over-retraction thereof. The bottommost and smallestsection 53 of each leg 25 is provided with a head 69, and below saidhead is rotatably carried a pin 62 carrying a collar 66 from Whichextends a bracket 66 carrying rotatably another pin 68 which supportsthe foot 28, it being noted. that. each foot 28 is universally supportedby each leg 26. It will be appreciated that the structure describedshows but one form of a universal connection, and that other means mightbe used, such as ball and socket joints and the like.

Each foot 28 comprises a hollow, pontoon-like structure of considerablearea whereby to distribute the weight of the structure over a sufiicientarea to prevent penetration of the leg into the bottom, andis providedwith transverse plates 19 and longitudinal plates 72 which penetrateinto the bottom thereby to prevent any tendency in the feet to slip orskid over the said bottom. The top surface of the said feet 28 areprovided with extending threaded studs 14 which are; inoperative whenthe legs 26 are extended but which are adapted to be received in boresin flanges ."9 upon brackets l8 extending from the barge itself when thelegs 26 are retracted. Bolts 88 may be screwed over the studs 74 whensaid legs are so. retracted andthus is provided. additional supportingmeans for the feet and legs during transport. of they barge to andfromthe drilling site, it being noted that in hollow condition the feet28 themselves serve aspontoon supports at the surface of the water..

In the preferred embodiment. of the invention, the; extension of thelegs 26 and feet- 28 after removal of the bolts 80., the. positioningofsaid members, and the raising. .of the. barge from the surface of thewater is all accomplished by hydraulicv means.

The top. of the. uppermost section of each leg 26. i provided. with ahead 82 andafiixed thereto is a bearing-v 8A. which rotatably carriesthe uppermost section of a. telescoping. tubeBE, said tube extendingthrough. the head 82 and being connected withv a conduit 88.. The tube86 is provided. with packing means. 99 and is adapted to telescopicallyextend in conjunction withthe leg 25, a. key-way 92 being provided insaid tube coacting with suitable keying means to prevent relativerotation between the. various sections of the tube. The lowermost.section of the tube 86 '3 opens into a three-way selector valve 94.whose operation will be hereinafter described,v and to the uppe portion.of said tube is. welded a handle 96 by which thev tube. may be turned.as a unit to control the said valve 94. The conduit 88 is sel'ectivelyconnected to. awater. pump or to an. air pump, not. shown but which. maybe accommodated on the deck of the barge.

The valve 94- comprises a valve body 98, integral with the lowermostsection of the tube 86, and set within a valve housing Hill and turnabletherein. Said valve body is provided with a slot I02, a passage I04 anda. passage I06, adapted to coordinate. for operational purposes with aconduit I08 leading through. the. valve housing, with a conduit. H8, aconduit H2 and a conduit ll l. For the purpose of lowering the legs 26and feet 28, the valve body 98 is. turned to such position that thepassage I06 connects with conduit H4 whereby pumping of water throughthe conduit 88,. tube 85, valve body 98, passage lot and conduit. H4vpasses said fluid through a float valve. H6 supported within the foot 28into the. interior of said foot 28. The foot 23 and various sections ofthe legs 26 will sink at a speed the function of the amount of water ineach foot 28. Thus, the more water in each foot, the faster the foot andleg will sink; but if it is desired to slow the rate of sinking, air maybe pumped through the conduit 88 and thereafter through, the means justset. forth to the foot 28. By means of a gooseneck II8 leading to portsI in the foot 28, water is thus expelled from said foot, the foot isrendered relatively more buoyant, andthe speed of descent is checked.

Again the rate of speed of descent may be increased considerablywhere-desired by filling the 1egs'26 themselves with fluid. A conduitI22. controlled by a valve I24 leads from a fluid pump to each leg 26through a port in the head 82 for this purpose When it isdesired to filla leg 26 with fluid, the tube 86 is rotated to turn the valvebody 98 toa position whereby the passage I04 registers with the conduit I I0, thesaid conduit IIO leading to a cylinder I26 whereby to force a pistoncarrying a valve I28 outwardly,

causing said valve to seat in a port in the chamber I38, saidchamberIJ30 normally providing egress for fluid within the leg 26. Afterthus closing the leg 26,,fluid is forced into said leg I through theconduit I22 and under pressure aids in extending same, it being notedthat a relief valve I3I is provided in the head 82 of each leg 26whereby to bleed air from said leg.

After the foot 28 has reached the bottom, the legs25 will not have beenextended fully, the remaining potential extension being availableto liftthe barge or platform 20 from the surface of the water. This is done byapplying more pressure to the fluid from the conduit I22 into the leg 26and as fluid is forced thereinto the legs 26 will extend further,raising the barge 20. Such raising of the barge is accomplished underthe control of the pairs of differential jacks 48 in manner to behereinafter described.

After the barge has been lifted from the surface of the water anddrilling has been completed and it is desired to move to a new site, theforegoing hydraulic system is adapted to assist in the raising of thelegs and feet. The conduits I22 are opened to drain, thus relieving thefluid pressure within the legs' 26 and permitting the barge to settleback to the surface of the water. Thereafter, the tube 86, and thus thevalve body 98, is turned to register the passage I04 with the conduitII2 so-that fluid pressure will force the valve I28 to open positionwith respect to the chamber I30, thus permitting free draining of theleg 26. It will be noted that by virtue of the slot I02 in the valvebody 98, the inoperative side of the cylinder I26 is permitted to drainthrough a spring-loaded ball valve 132. After opening the leg 28, thevalve body 98 is again rotated, this time again to register the passageI06 with the conduit I I4, whereupon air is forced into the tube 86 andinto the foot 28, forcing the water therein out through the conduit H8and ports I28. The buoyancy of the said foot will cause the sections ofthe leg 26 to telescope and retract to the surface, a draining of thefluid in said leg occurring through the chamber I30. It will be notedthat the provision of the ports I20 at the bottom of the feet 28 notonly provide a suction-breaking means at the bottom of said feet butalso during the jetting'of the water in each foot, provide a means forwashing away adhesive mud, sand, and the like. When the legs 26 arefully telescoped and the feet 28 have risen to the surface, the bolts'88 are threaded over the threaded studs I4, thereby fully supportingthe feet and legs for transport of the barge. v

, The foregoing has described the means associated with the legs andfeet for extending and retracting same. In order to control the angulardisposition'of the legs with respect to the barge or platform 20, thereis provided, as shown partially schematically in Figures 6, '7 and 8,pairs of jacks 48, each pair referred to for convenience as 48 and 48a,adapted each individually to control its respective leg and each pairadapted, if desired, to coordinate the .pivotal movement of facing pairsof said legs 28. As heretofore stated, each jack 48 is itself pivotallysupported on a post 50 and connected through a piston rod 46 and yoke 44to the uppermost section of each leg 26. Slidable in each jack 48 is apiston I34 connected to the piston rod 46. On either side of said pistonI34 and leading from the jack 48 is a divided conduit, the conduit onthe exterior side of said piston I34 in a jack 48 leading through one ofa pair of two-position valve elements I36 and I36a commonly actuated ina single valve I38 to an open and closed position to the interior sideof its matching jack 48a, through a conduit I40. Conversely, the dividedconduit leading from the exterior side of the piston I34a in jack 48apasses by conduit 011 through the valve element I36a to the interiorside of the jack 48. The exterior side of the jack 48 also leads througha conduit I42 to a fourposition selector valve I44 having three commonlyactuated valve elements I46, I48 and I50, said valve I44 leading in turnto a fluid pump and to a reservoir. Similarly, the conduit I42a leadingfrom the jack 48a leads to a comparable valve I44a having valve elementsI46a, I48a, H501]. and said valve I44a leads to a fluid pump andreservoir. Conduits I52 and H321; lead, respectively, from the interiorsides of jacks 48 and 48a to the valves I44 and MM.

Referring to Figures 6, '7 and 8 and particularly to Figure 6 and thejack 48, it will be seen that the disposition of the valve elements I46,I48 and I50 causes fluid to lead from the pump to the interior side ofthe jack 48 and with the valve I38 closed, the leg 28 is pivoted to movethe foot 28 inwardly with respect to the barge 20 and independently ofany other leg including its matching leg 28a. Again referringparticularly to Figure 7 and the jack 48a, it will be seen thatdisposition of the valve elements M811, M811 and I50a pass fluid to theexterior of the jack 48a, and with the valve I38 closed pivots the leg2811 so that the foot 28a moves outwardly from the barge 20.

It is to be noted that in both Figures 6 and '7 the legs 26 and 2611 areactuated independently, since the valve I38 is closed and since nocommunication exists between jacks through the conduits I40 and I48a. InFigure 6 it will benoted that due to the disposition of the elements ofthe valve I44a the leg 26a is locked against pivoting. In Figure 7,since communication is provided between the exterior and interior sidesof the jack 68 through the valve element I48, free and unrestrictedpivoting in either direction of the leg 26 is permitted.

Thus it will be seen by Figures 6 and 7 that with the valve I38 closed,the valve I44 and its duplicate, the valve IMa, permit in the variousdispositions of their elements an independent controlling of the variouslegs whereby to pivot said legs to move a foot 28 inwardly with respectto the barge or outwardly with respect to the barge, permit a locking ofthe leg, or permit a terior and interior sides of matching jacks 48 and48a through the conduits I40and-I40a, It

7, is contemplated that such communication willzbe permitted only whenthe valves I44: and I44a and their elements are in a position which,but. for

the-open position of valve I38, would, look their respective jacks; i.e., the position shown-of valve I44a= in Figure 6. Since the valve I38is open and communication permitted-1 between. the conduits I 46 and.IBM, it will be seen that pivoting in either direction is permitted inthe legs 26 or in-v the. legs. 26a, with the proviso that if the leg 226 be pivoted, a corresponding pivoting must take placein the leg, 26cand: suchpivoting, must be in the samedirection.

It, will be noted that there has not been shown in the drawings thevarious, pumps, valves, and 1 thelike heretofore described in connectionwith theapparatus. Said pumps, valves, and associated mechanism may beplaced upon the barge or platform 28 in any suitable space and enclosedin, for example; the engine room or a separate control room. In additionto the trusses 36 and the like for supporting the legs 26, there havebeen provided various guy wires or cables and the like for the purposeof aiding in stabilizing the supporting structure. Thus there have been.provided cables I54 and I56 connected to the feet 28- and to winches(not shown) onthe barge 2!). itself. which may be used to in partcontrol. theangular disposition of the feet 28 upon extension. of thelegs 26. may be provided connecting. various pairs of feet 28. toprevent undesired spreading of the supporting, structure and to.minimizethe danger of collapse thereof. Again, to prevent undesiredspreading of the feet in a longitudinal direction,

cables I60 are shown connecting the feet longitudinally. And finally, itwill be appreciated that during drilling operations, any suitablebracing member I62, as a bolted-down beam, may be providedacross theslot 22 to add rigidity to the barge or platform.

In the-general operation of the drilling plat form or barge, the saidbarge is transported to the drilling site and the feet 28 unbolted.Thereafter, to attain the position shown in. Figure 4, the desiredangular disposition of the legs is achieved by manipulation of thevalves I44 and I444; and. application of fluid pressure to the jacks 48.and 48a, the valve I38 remaining closed during this operation. The legs26 maythen be locked in their proper angular dispositions, as shownschematically in Figure 6, with respect to thejack 48a. For each leg,the handle 96 is then actuated to turn the valve body 98 and fluid ispumped through the conduit 88 and on into the feet 28 whereby said feetand the legs 26 sink to the'bottom. Thereafter the valve I 38 is openedand the valves I44 and mm being in normally locked position, each leg 26is free to pivot with respect to the barge 26, but its matching leg mustcorrespondingly pivot whereb the barge may be maintained during anypivoting in a horizontal plane. Upon. assuring that the chamber I36 isclosed to prevent leakage of fluid from the legs 2.6, fluid is pumpedinto the said legs 26 and they are further extended to lift the barge 26from the surface of the water, it being noted that in this operation thelegs 26 will pivot outwardly but each pair in unison as the barge leavesthe surface of the water. The valve I38 is then closed which provides alocking of the various jacks 48 and 48a and consequently the legs 26,and the barge and supporting structure is ready for any drillingoperations desired.

After drilling completed and it is desired to move the barge, the valveI38 is first opened and Moreover, cablesv I56 Qli in .n)

. even the rate of ascent of fluid allowed to exit from the conduits I22whereupon the legs will partially telescope and the barge settle to thesurface of the water. For each leg, by the handle 96, the valve body 98'is turned to open the chamber I30 and thus vent each of the legs 26, andthen turned again to connect each tube 86 with its foot 28. Air ispumped. into the feet 28 and their natural buoyancy causes a telescopingof the legs 26 and a withdrawal to the barge. The valves I 44 and I4'4aare adjusted to enable fluid pressure through the jacks 48 and 48a, topivot the legs 26 to their upright. positions and the feet 28 thereuponbolted to the brackets 18, whereupon the barge can depart from thecompleted well.

It is obvious that various departures from themode of. operation abovedescribed are available. For example, in preparation for drilling, thelegs on one side of the barge may be extended in a substantiallyvertical position until their feet 28 reach the bottom, whereupon the.jacks on theproper sidemay' be used to dispose said extended legs in thedesired angular position, after which the legs on the other side may bedisposed in their desired angular positions and thereafter lowered untiltheir feet 28 rest upon the bottom. Again, as heretofore noted,judicious handling of the valve means 94 and associated pumps the rateof descent or may be used to control the feet 28 and the legs 26, anddescent of the legs 26 may be speeded up by introducing fluid into timefluid is introduced into the feet 28.

Figure 14 shows a modification in the structure whereby, barge, the;barge itself is substantially square. In the modification shown, thelegs and associated mechanism are mounted one on each side of the bargeand the facing legs are integrated in control just. as; are thematching. legs in the preferred embodiment. The operation of this.modification, so far as concerns the respective pairs of legs, isprecisely the same as the operation of the more narrowly shaped barge,and. like parts in the principal embodiment correspond to like parts onthe modification. The principal advantage of the modification shown iswell drilling is to be of such a nature as not to require heaviermachinery, materials and the like, as in shallow well drilling, saidembodiment provides a lighter, more compact and less ex.- pen sivestructure.

Flgure 15 shows a modification in the struc-- ture-whereby, in order tocontrol the angular disposition of the legs lic. jack system. Betweeneach pair of legs 26' is provided a differential gearing mechanismwhich. comprises a conventional gear box I60 containing sun gears I62and I64 and planetary gears I66 and I68, said planetary I12. Carried bythe structure is the ring, gear I14 whichengages a pinion I'I6- aflixedto a shaftsaid legs 26 at the sameinstead of a long and narrow thatwhere the- 26, a mechanical system i's used instead of the previouslydescribed hydraugears I66 and I68 being adapted to rotate freely on theshafts I70 and:

is driven by suitable power I62 is keyed to a shaft I62 which the gearbox through a brake- I86 is controlled by a leveron the shaft I96 and inturn carries a cable 202 passing around a sheave 204 and connected onopposite sides to the upper portion of the leg 26. The sheave 264 issupported by truss means 206 rigidly afiixed to the brackets 32.

' Similarly, the sun gear I64 is keyed to shaft 208 passing throughbrake drum 2I0 to clutch 2I2 controlled by the lever 2I4. On the otherside of said clutch is a shaft 2I6 carrying bevel gear 2I8 which engagesa bevel gear 220 carried by the shaft 222. It will be noted that thebevel gear 228 is in opposite relationship to the bevel gear 2 I8 fromthat relationship between the bevel gears I92 and I94.

The shaft 222, supported in the diagrammatically shown bearings 224,carries a reel 226 which in turn carries a cable 228. The cable 228passes around a sheave 230 which is carried by the truss 232 and. isconnected to the leg 26a.

As with the prior described hydraulic jack system, the above mechanicalsystem provides a differential means for controlling the angulardisposition of the legs 26 and 26a in respect to the barge. If it bedesired to move the leg independently of the leg 26a, the operator willlock the shaft 208 by means of the brake drum 2I0, thus rendering theleg 26a immovable and may then apply power in the direction desired tothe shaft I18. By virtue of the ring gear- I14, the gear box I60 willrotate, rotating in turn the sun gear I62 and the shaft I82. With theclutch I86 engaged, this will drive the reel 200 and thus the cable 202to dispose the leg 26 in its desired position. Of course it isappreciated that it is unnecessary during this operation to render theleg 26a immovable inasmuch as the clutch 2I2 can be disengaged. I v

It will thus be seen by the foregoing description that through thedifferential system described, either the leg 26 or the leg 26a may beangularly disposed independent of its matching leg. As heretoforedescribed, however, it is desirable that means be afforded wherebyangular movement of one leg be accompanied by an equivalent angularmovement in the other leg as when the barge is ready to be lifted fromthe surface of the body of water over which drilling is to take place.This is accomplished by freeing the two brake drums I84 and 2I0 byengaging the two clutches I86 and 2I2, and by simply locking the shaftI18 by means of the brake drum I80. In this condition, when fluid ispumped into the legs 26 and 26a, in order to raise the barge withrespect to the surface of the body of water, angular movement ineitherone of the legs is accompanied by. equal angular movement in the other.Thus, when the leg 26 pivots counterclockwise, the reel 288 will causethe shaft I96 to turn, and through the bevel gears I94 and I92, theshaft I82 will likewise turn. Through the sun gear I62, the planetarygears I66 and I68 and the sun gear I64, the shaft 268 will turn in anopposite direction from the shaft I82, and through the bevel gears 2I8and 220, cause the reel 226 to rotate. Rotation of the reel 226 drivesthe cable 228 to cause a clockwise pivoting of the leg 26a correspondingwith the counterclockwise pivoting of the leg 28. It is, of course,apparent that looking legs 26 and 26a in desired angular disposition maybe accomplished by locking the shafts I82 and 208 by the brake drums I84and 2H], provided that the clutches I86 and 2I2 are engaged.

While there has been described what is at present considered a preferredembodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to 10 thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be madewithout departing from the essence of the invention, and it is intendedto cover herein all such modifications and changes as come within thetrue scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A barge for supporting well drilling struc ture over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; telescoping supporting legs pivotallyconnected thereto, said legs, when extended being of sufficient lengthto lift said barge body above the surface of said water and to provide abase in excess of the width of said barge body; and an hydraulic systemoperable to pump fluid into said legs to extend said legs; and air pumpsconnected to said system whereby to evacuate said fluid fromsaid legs topermit floating retraction thereof.

2. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing extendable legs pivotallyconnected thereto, said legs, when extended, being of sufficient lengthto lift said barge body above the surface of said water and to provide abase in excess of the width of said barge body; and an hydraulic systemoperable to pump fluid into said legs to extend said legs.

3. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; extendable supporting legs pivotally connectedthereto, said legs, when extended, being of sufiicient length to liftsaid barge body above the surface of said water and to provide a base inexcess of the width of said barge body; and hydraulic jackscooperatively associated with said legs to control the angulardisposition of said legs in relation to said barge body.

l. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; extendable supporting legs pivotally connectedthereto, said legs, when extended, being of sufficient length to liftsaid barge body above the surface of said water and to provide a base inexcess of the width of said barge body; and differential gear linkagecooperatively associated with said legs to control the angulardisposition of said legs' in relation to said barge body.

5. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing extendable legs pivotallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair having each a predeterminedangular disposition with respect to said barge body, and beingrestrained each to vary its angular disposition in response to anyvariance in the angular disposition of the other; and an hydraulic.system operable to pump fluid into said legs to extend said legs toprovide supporting structure for said barge body of predetermined basewidth.

6. A barge for supporting well drilling struc each a predeterminedangular disposition with respect to said barge body, and beingdifferentially restrained each to vary its angular disposition inresponse to any variance in the angular disposition of the other; and anhydraulic system operable to pump fluid into said legs to extend saidlegs to provide supporting structure for said barge body ofpredetermined base width.

7. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing telescoping legs pivotallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair having each a predeterminedangular disposition with respect to said barge body, and beingrestrained each to vary its angular disposition in response to anyvariance in the angular disposition of the other, said leg pairs beingextendable to suflicient length to provide a base of predetermined widthfor said barge body and to lift said barge body from said water; and anhydraulic system operable to pump fluid into said legs to extend saidlegs.

8. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing telescoping legs pivotallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair having each a predeterminedangular disposition with respect to said barge body, and beingdifferentially restrained 'each to vary its angular disposition inresponse to any variance in the angular disposition of the other, saidleg pairs being extendable to sufiicient length to provide a base ofpredetermined Width for said barge body and to lift said barge body fromsaid water; and an hydraulic system operable to pump fluid into saidlegs to extend said legs.

9. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing telescoping legs pivotallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair having each apredeterminedangular dispositionwith respect to said. barge body, means adapted torestrain each leg to vary its angular disposition in response to v.anyvariance in the angular disposition of the other, said leg pairs beingextendable to sufiicient length to provide a base of predetermined widthfor said barge body and to lift said barge body from said water, saidmeans including differential hydraulic jacks; and an hydraulic system oerable to pump fluid into said legs to .extend said legs.

'10. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge y; p rs of facing telescoping legs pivotallyconnected here he legs of each pair having each a predetermined angulardisposition with resp o said barge body, means adapted to restrain eachleg to vary its angular disposition in response to any variance in theangula disposition of the other, .said'l g pairs bein eX- ten'dable tosuflicient length to provide a base of predetermined width for saidbarge body and to .lift, said barge body from said water, said meansincluding a difierentia'l'gear linkage; and an hydraulic system operableto pump fluid into said legs t xtend said legs.

11. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over "a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing extendible legs pivotallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair having each a predeterminedangular disposition with respect to said barge 'bodyfand beingrestrained each 'to vary said angular disposition in response Cir o anyvariance in the angular disposition of the other; and means or extendingsaid legs to lift said barge body above said water and to provide a basefor said barge body.

12. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing extendible legs pi votallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair having each a predeterminedangular disposition with respect to said barge body. and beingdifferentially restrained each to vary said angular disposition inresponse to any variance in the angular disposition of the other; andmean for extending said legs to lift said barge body above said waterand to rovide a base for said barge body.

13. A barge for-supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising: a barge body; pairs of facing extendible legs ivotallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair havin each 'a predeterminedangular disDOsition with respect to said barge body; hydraulic jackscooperatively associated with the legs of each pair to restrain each legto vary its angular-disposition in response to any variance in the a uar disposition of the other; and means for extending said legs to liftsaid barge body above said Water and to rovide a base for said bargebody.

14. A barge for supporting well drilling structure over a body of watercomprising; a barge body; pairs of facing. extendible legs pivotallyconnected thereto, the legs of each pair having each a predeterminedangular disposition with respect to said barge body; differential gearlinkage cooperatively associated with the legs of each pair to restraineach leg to vary its angular disposition in response to any variance inthe a gular disposition of the o h r; and me ns for eX- tending saidlegs to lift said barge body above said water and to provide a base forsaid barge body.

ERLE P. HALLIBURTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED :STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 428,141 Robinson May 20,18901,718,006 Reno June 18,, 1929 1,892,125 Armstrong Dec. 27, 19322,237,387 Crites Apr. 8, 1941 2,248,051 Armstrong July 8, 1941 2,308,743.Bulkley Jan. 19, 1943 2,327,118 MacKnight Aug. 17, 1943 2,334,992'Crake Nov. 23, 1943 2,398,351 Baker Apr. 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 1,112 Great Britain 1912

